Electric indicating mechanism



Jan. 26, 19 R. A. NEVINGER ELECTRIC INDICATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed March 1, 1940 W" 11mm Jan. 26, 1943.

R. A. NEVINGER 2,309,205

ELECTRIC INDICATING MECHANISM Filed March 1, 1940 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Jan. 26, 1 943.

R.- A. NEVINGER ELECTRIC INDIQA ING MECHANISM Filed Mann 1, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEELECTREC INDICATING MECHANISM Ralph A. Nevinger, Greenville, Ill.Application March 1, 1940, Serial No. 321,664

2 Claims.

This invention relates to electric indicating mechanism; and has specialreference to mechanism adapted for use to indicate the scores in sportsgames, prices and fluctuations of prices of merchandise, etc., and forvarious other uses.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved electric indicatingmechanism comprising a rotary support for series of electrical contactshaving electrical connection in a novel cooperative relationship toadapt them for use in the device; to provide a series of brushes forengaging different contacts in the respective series when said supportis rotated to positions for that purpose; to provide a plurality of neontubes or the like for electrical control by energy supplied theretothrough the switches comprising said contacts and brushes; and toprovide means in connection with said tubes whereby different portionsof the different tubes may be electrically energized under control ofsaid switches to form different characters or digits to indicate scoresin sports games, prices and fluctuations of prices of merchandise, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric indicatingmechanism including a rotary support having series of pairs of contactsthereon with electrical connections on the support between the contactsof each pair of contacts, a series of brushes mounted in cooperativerelation with said contacts whereby, when said support is turned todifferent adjusted positions, an electrical circuit may be closedthrough said contacts and brushes to a set of novel indicating deviceswhereby different parts of the indicating devices may be used as partsof nui merical digits.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric indicatingmechanism having a series of neon tubes arranged in a relationship toform all of the ten numeral digits by electrically energizing differentparts of said tubes to form the different digits, and preventingelectrical energization of the unused parts of the respective tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric indicatingmechanism of the character and of the type last above mentioned in whichthe electrical energy is communicated directly to master parts of avariable electric switch mechanism from the secondary of a transformer.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which-Fig. l is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating themanner of forming the digit 9 by use of cooperating parts of the neontubes.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of the switch mechanism on theline 22 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch mechanismapproximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 to 12, inclusive, are views of a series of neon tubes arrangedin a novel relationship and combined with electrodes in a novel mannerso that operation of the switch mechanism will energize proper parts ofsaid tubes in a manner to indicate the nine digits from 0 (Fig. 4) to 8(Fig. 12), inclusive, the parts for forming the digit 9 being shown inFig. l.

Fig. 13 shows a development of the surface of th cylinder having theelectrical connections thereon, the brushes, and the wiring from thebrushes to the tubes which are also shown as a developed arrangement.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown, a rotary support inthe form of a cylinder comprising a series of ten elongated segments I,preferably composed of electrically non-conduc- L tive material, isattached to a shaft 2 journalled for rotation in supports 3 and 4.Instead of making the segments l of insulating material, the contactscarried thereby may be otherwise insulated from each other. As shown,removable and replaceable fasteners 5 secure the ends of the segments lbetween flanges 6 rigid with the shaft 2. A contact 1 is attached to oneend of each of the segments l and a similar series of contacts 8 isattached to the opposite ends of said segments. In the specificarrangement shown, there are ten contacts 1 and ten cooperating contacts8. The contacts 1 are spaced equidistant circumferentially from eachother, as are the contacts 8. A resilient brush 9 attached to aninsulating support ll! has electrical connection H with one end of asecondary l2 of a transformer T; and a similar resilient brush l3likewise mounted on the insulating support ID has electrical connection14 with the opposite end of said secondary l2. An electrical conductorI5 is connected with one end of the primary $6 of the transformer T, anda cooperating conductor ll may be electrically connected with theopposite end of the primary l6 through a switch l8.

The shaft 2 is rotative in order to place any selected ones of thecontacts 1 and 8 in cooperative relation to the brushes 9 and 13,respectively. As shown, one end of said shaft has a knob l9 attachedthereto, by manual operation of which the shaft 2 and the contactcarrying cylinder may be rotated. However, other means may be providedfor rotating the shaft 2 and the contact carrying cylinder, as desired.A disc 28 is attached to the shaft 2 and formed with a circumferentialseries of notches 2| for engagement with a pawl 22 pivotally supportedon the support 4 to stop and yieldingly retain the shaft 2 and thecontact carrying cylinder in the different positions to which they areturned to engage the respective contacts 1 and 8 with their cooperatingbrushes 9 and I3.

The specific neon tube assembly shown is arranged so that differenttubes or different sections of certain tubes may be optionally used andelectrically energized to form the ten digits, while the unused portionsof tubes or sections of tubes remain unenergized, and therefore dark andunilluminated.

An oval neon tube comprises an upper curved translucent section 23having an opaque end portion 24 connected with an electrode 25, anopaque portion 26 connected with an electrode 21, a curved translucentportion 28 in continuation of the part 23, and also in communicationwith the electrode 21, and an electrode 29 connected to the opposite endof the tube portion 28 and to an adjacent end of a similar curvedportion 30 which has its opposite end connected through a dark orunilluminated portion 3| with an electrode 32.

A lower oval neon tube comprises a curved translucent section 33 havingone end connected with a dark or unilluminated electrode 34 and itsopposite end connected with a dark or unr illuminated electrode 35 fromwhich a translucent tube portion 36 extends to a dark or unilluminatedconnection with an electrode 31. A curved extension 38 extends fromelectrical communication with the electrode 34 to connection with a darkor unilluminated electrode 39.

A neon tube 4| has its ends connected with electrodes 42 and 43 adjacentto the electrodes 21 and 35, respectively, so that, when the entireupper oval comprising the tube portions 23, 38 and 38, the tube 4|, andthe lower curved tube section 36, are illuminated, the digit 9 isdisplayed, all other parts of the tube assembly remaining dark orunilluminated.

Another portion of the tube assembly for forming the remaining digitscomprises an elongated translucent neon tube 44 having its endselectrically connected with electrodes 45 and 46. The tube 44 is usedfor forming the digit 1 and also for forming the staff of the digit 4,as hereinafter explained.

The digit 2 in the specific form of the invention shown is formed byilluminating the tube sections 23, 28 and 38, and the angular tubesection 41 extending from an electrode 48 to an electrode 49 (Fig. 6).

The digit 3 is formed by illuminating the tube sections 23, 23, 33 and36 and leaving the remaining tube sections unilluminated (Fig. '1).

The digit 4 is formed by illuminating the vertical tube 44, a horizontaltube 50 extending across the tube 44 from connection with an electrode5| to connection with an electrode 52, the latter of which is locatedadjacent to an inclined tube section 53 extending from an electrode 54adjacent to the electrode 45 to an electrode 55 adjacent to theelectrode 52. The remainder of the tube of which the section 53 is apart and the other tube elements in the assembly are left unilluminatedor dark when the tubes 44 and 58 and the tube section 53 are illuminatedto form the digit 4 (Fig. 8)

The digit 5 is formed by illuminating a horizontal tube section 56extending from connection with the tube section 53 at the electrode 54across to an electrode 51, and thence downwardly across an electrode 58to connection with a tube arm 59 extending to an electrode 60 adjacentto the electrode 34, and by illuminating the tube sections 33 and 36 andleaving the remainder of the tube assembly unilluminated or dark (Fig.9).

The digit 6 is formed by illuminating the tube sections 23, 63, 33, 36and 38 and leaving the remainder of the tube assembly unilluminated ordark (Fig. 10).

The digit '1 is formed by illuminating the tube sections 56 and 53 and atube extension 6| of the tube section 53 extending from the electrode 55to an end electrode 62, and leaving the remainder of the tube assemblyunilluminated or dark (Fig. 11).

The digit 8 is formed by illuminating the tube sections 23, 28, 3D, 33,38 and 38, and leaving the remainder of the tube assembly unilluminated(Fig. 12).

The character or digit 0 is formed by illuminating the upper arcuatetube section 23, the lower arcuate tube section 36, the connecting tube4| which extends from one end of the tube section 23 to the subjacentend of the tube section 36, and by illuminating a translucent neon tubesection 63 analogous to the tube section 4| and extending from theelectrode 58 to the electrode 48 near the subjacent end of the lowerarcuate tube section 36, and leaving the remainder of the tube assemblyunilluminated or dark.

The respective electrodes in connection with these tube sections areelectrically connected to cooperating contacts mounted on the rotarycontact carrier. A description of the illustrated connections forforming the digit "9 (Fig. 1) is considered suificient to afford anunderstanding of the connections for forming the remaining digits Asshown, one of the contacts 1 on the 9 segment I of the rotary contactcarrier has electrical connection 65 with a contact member 66 which isengaged by a brush 61 when the brush 9 engages the contact 1 with whichsaid contact 66 is electrically connected. A wire 68 forms electricalconnection from the brush 61 to the electrode 31.

A contact 69 has electrical connection 18 with a contact 1| on the 9segment I of the rotary contact carrier. A brush 12 attached to theinsulated support |0 engages the contact 69 when the brushes 9 and 61engage the contacts 1 and 66, and has electrical connection 13 with theelectrode 35. The brush 14 simultaneously engages the contact H and haselectrical connection 15 with the electrode 32. A pair of electrodes 16and 11 have electrical connection 18 and are simultaneously engaged bybrushes 19 and 80, respectively. The brush 19 has electrical connection8| with the electrode 25, and the brush 88 has electrical connection 82with the electrode 42. A contact 83 on the 9 segment of the rotarycontact carrier has electrical connection 84 with the contact 8 on thesame segment, and is engaged by a brush 85 at the same time that thebrushes 9, I3, 61, 12, 14, 19 and 88 engage their respective contacts onsaid segment. The brush 85 has electrical connection 86 with theelectrode 43 at the opposite end of the tube 4| from the electrode 42.In this manner, when said brushes engage their respective contactmembers on the 9 segment I of the rotary contact carrier, the tubesections 23, 28, 3, ii and 35 are illuminated or electrically energizedto form the digit 9, leaving all of the remaining tube elements of theassembly unilluminated or dark.

It should be understood that the proper electrodes in connection. withthe tube assembly are electrically connected with. corresponding brushesattached to the insulated support iii and shown in Fig. 1 to form theremaining selected digits when the contact carrier is turned to properposition to engage the contact members on the different digital segmentsthereof with said brushes. In each instance, the neon tube portions thatare to be illuminated or energized are electrically connected with theopposite ends of the secondary 52 of the transformer while the oppositeends of the primary it of the transformer are connected with the wiresl5 and 11, respectively. Supply of electrical energy for operating thedevice is controlled by the switch l8.

From the foregoing description and the annexed drawings, it is apparentthat my tube assembly for forming the various digits for any useful ordesired purpose comprises only two superimposed banks of tubes. Thetubes and tube sections are of different lengths and, therefore, arecharacterized by differentials of resistance which are neutralized orcontrolled efiiciently by my improved switch mechanism. For instance,the tubes M, M and 5t] which are of different lengths and theirrespective electrical connections, and other tubes and tube sections andtheir respective electrical connections, are characterized bydifferentials of resistance. These differentials of resistance arecomplementary throughout, so that approximately uniform illumination orlighting eifect is obtained in all uses of the device. As a consequence,the device has a very wide range of utility; may be manufactured andsold at permissible cost; and may be viewed from different angles orpositions without greatly varying the symmetrical appearance of the tubearrangement. iewed from practically any angle, the tubes appear to be insubstantially the same plane and not greatly offset from each other.

I am aware that the construction and arrangement of the rotary contactcarrier may be Widely varied without departure from the principle ofthis portion of the invention. For instance, the rotary contact carriermay be of other forms than cylindrical so long as rotation of thecontact carriers to different adjusted positions places the differentcontacts or pairs of contacts thereon in cooperative relationship withthe brushes and with the master brushes 9 and I3 or their equivalents.So, also, the arrangement of the tubes may be varied to form digits ofdifferent shapes or to form other letters than the character 0, which iscommon to the alphabet and to the Arabic numerals. I contemplate theseand such other variations in the construction, form and operation of thedevice as may be needed to adapt the invention for its intended varioususes.

I claim:

1 An electric indicating mechanism comprising a plurality of tubeelements provided with electrode terminals, electrical connections fromsaid respective terminals, an elongated cylinder supported for optionalrotation to different adjusted positions about its longitudinal axis,series of contacts attached to said cylinder complementary to saidelectrodes, two circumferential series of relatively insulated mastercontacts attached to said cylinder for movement thereby to differentadjusted positions when said cylinder is rotated to said adjustedpositions about said longitudinal axis and each master contact havingelectrical connection with one contact of said first series of contactsand being insulated from all others of said contacts, two master brusheseach having electrical connection with a source of electrical energy forengaging the respective contacts of said two series of contacts, andbrushes attached to said respective connections for electricallyconnecting said terminals in series with said respective master contactsfor energizing selected ones of said tube elements when said cylinder isrotated to different adjusted positions about its longitudinal axis asaforesaid.

2. An electric indicating mechanism comprising a plurality of tubeelements provided with electrode terminals, electrical connections fromsaid respective terminals, an elongated cylinder supported for optionalrotation to different selected positions about its longitudinal axis,circumferential contacts attached to said cylinder, pairs ofcircumferential contacts attached to said cylinder and having the twocontacts of each pair in electrical connection with each other andinsulated from said first named contacts, two circumferential series ofrelatively insulated master contacts attached to said cylinder andhaving electrical connection respectively with said first named contactsand being insulated from all other contacts, electrical means forselectively connecting said master contacts respectively with a sourceof electrical energy in the different selected positions of saidcylinder about its longitudinal axis as aforesaid, and brushes attachedto said respective connections for electrically connecting saidterminals selectively in series with said first contacts and said pairsof contacts in the different selected positions of said cylinder aboutits longitudinal axis in which selected ones of said master contacts areconnected With a source of electrical energy as aforesaid while allother master contacts remain insulated from said source, wherebyselected ones of said elements may be energized,

RALPH A. NEVINGER.

